Aptis Remote

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 20

Aptis

Step-by-step guide
on taking the Aptis
Remote test
July 2023

www.britishcouncil.org/aptis
2 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

Contents

Introduction to Aptis Remote 3


Overview of the Aptis Remote test process 3
Step 1: Pre-test set up 4
Step 2: Download the Proctortrack software and complete the onboarding process 4
Step 3: Preparing for your test day 12
Step 4: On the day of your test 12
Step 5: Your results 15

Annex 16
System requirements 16
Test environment requirements 17
Test security and candidate actions 18
Data protection 18
Safeguarding 19
Aptis for all 19
3 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

Introduction to Aptis Remote

Aptis Remote offers a new way of secure testing. It combines the benefits of online testing
with video monitoring to ensure a secure experience and reliable results. Aptis Remote has
the same format, structure and timing as a standard Aptis test.

With this remote method, Aptis is delivered using the Janison Replay platform. Candidates
will be monitored using a test-tracking software, ‘Proctortrack’, which they will need to
download onto the computer before the test is taken.

Overview of the Aptis Remote test process


Step 4:
Take your test

Step 1: Step 2: Step 5:


Prepare your test space Enrol with Proctortrack Get your results

Step 3:
Prepare your test space

Days before test day Test day Post test

12 10 4 3 T

You will be You will receive You will receive If your Log on to You will usually
registered for two emails a reminder onboarding Proctortrack 15 receive your
your test. email if you is successful, minutes before results five
1. have not yet you will receive test time, and days after the
for information: completed an email with finish test as test. Delays
overview of the onboarding. instructions required. Upload may be caused
test process for your test proctoring video by technical
(sent by day, including as required. issues uploading
administrator). personalised, the test or the
live keycodes. proctoring video.
2.
for action:
invitation to
complete
onboarding.
4 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

Step 1: Pre-test set up

Ensure your equipment meets the minimum requirements -


See the System requirements annex to make sure your computer will work for the test.

Ensure your testing environment meets the requirements -


See the Test environment requirements annex to make sure your room and
workspace are suitable.

Familiarise yourself with the behavioural requirements -


See the Test security and candidate actions annex to best understand what you
need to do, and what to avoid, during onboarding and on the test day.

Step 2: Download the Proctortrack software and complete


the onboarding process

Once you are registered by the administrator, you will receive a confirmation email with
an overview of the end-to-end test process, from registration to test day. Ensure you
regularly check your email inbox as well as your junk or spam folders.

Please get in touch with us if you do not receive emails by the specified deadlines.

When you receive the onboarding email entitled ‘Important: Prepare for your upcoming
Aptis Remote test’, follow the steps below to download the software and complete the
onboarding process. Take note of your familiarisation test code to use later in this process.

1. Check your device is ready

Minimum requirements are listed in the System requirements annex of this guide.

2. Log in to Proctortrack, download the


application and verify your identity

1. Open https://eu-testing.verificient.com
using Google Chrome and login using the
username and password provided in your
onboarding email. Once you login, a page
will load requesting you to set your own
password. Please follow the instructions
and remember your password as you will
be required to use it for all your future
logins to Proctortrack.
5 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

2. Click ‘Go to the test list’ and click ‘Go


to Test’ to start your onboarding process.

3. Read the instructions on ‘Let's Get


Started’ and ‘Instructor's Guidelines for
Current Test’ page, scroll to the bottom
and check the checkbox to acknowledge
you have read, understood and accepted
the guidelines.
6 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

5. Download and open the installer and


follow the steps.

Please note: macOS devices require


Proctortrack be granted additional
permissions. Please read Step 3 – If
using a Mac, complete these additional
steps.

Please note: if the App was downloaded


during any previous exams/tests,
the download page will detect the
downloaded app and bring forward
a pop-up window to click on ‘Open
Proctortrack’ to launch the application.

Once the application is open, click


‘Connect to Proctortrack’.

6. Confirm your consent, agreement, and


acknowledgment.

7. The system check will automatically


run. During this time, your device will
be locked and some applications may
close. Ensure you have your one-time
code written down as provided in your
onboarding email in order to complete
the familiarisation test.
7 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

8. You may need to click on ‘Force apps


to close’, if some apps are still running
in the background of your system, and
then click on ‘Retry’ to finish the system
check.

9. Once the system check is completed


successfully, click ‘Continue’ to start your
onboarding.

10. Read the instructions on this screen


and click ‘Continue’ when you are ready
to begin onboarding.
8 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

11. Read the instructions and click


‘Start Scan’.

12. Submit a face scan. Front face, left


and right face scans are required.

13. Click ‘Yes’ to confirm your scan or


‘No’ to do the scan again.

14. Read through the ID scan instructions.

15. Click ‘Next’.

16. Scan your valid ID as required. This


ID will be used on the test day to verify
your identity and ensure you are sitting
the test. Click ‘Yes’ to confirm, ‘No’ to
re-scan.

17. Once confirmed, the system will


launch Proctortrack.
9 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

3. Read through the exam guidelines

The exam guidelines will be displayed


on-screen. Please read through the Not
Allowed and Allowed pages (A) using the
scroll button (B).

Click ‘I agree, let’s begin’.

The system will take you to the test page.

4. Complete the familiarisation test

The system will direct you to the


familiarisation test pages which give you
the opportunity to experience what your
actual test will look like. Note that the
familiarisation test will not be scored and
can be taken only once.

In order to take your familiarisation test,


you need to:

1. Have your one-time code written down


and ready. Click on ‘Start a Test’.

2. Enter your one-time code (also called


student code) and click ‘Next’.
10 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

3. Finish the familiarisation test following


the instructions and click ’Finish’.

5. Exit and upload the Proctortrack


video

If you run the test in online mode and


connection is strong enough:

1. After you have submitted your test,


you can end proctoring by clicking ‘End’
in the top-right corner of your screen.

2. Click ‘Yes I have completed and


submitted my test’ and then click the
‘End’ button.
11 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

3. The session data will be automatically


uploaded to Proctortrack’s database.
Click ‘Quit App’ to save Proctortrack for
future use on your test day.

6. If your system goes offline before


upload, please remain at the ‘file
upload’ screen at the end of the test.

Monitoring continues offline even if network


connectivity fails. If your device goes back
online, the upload will continue automatically.

1. Click ‘Yes’ if you can go back online and


you will exit Proctortrack. Click ‘No’ to wait.

2. If you have to exit Proctortrack, once


back online, go back to your test dashboard
and you will see that the Status for the test
on your dashboard shows the notification
‘Upload Failed’. You must upload the data
within 24 hours. You can do this by re-
opening Proctotrack when you're online.

Failed or rejected onboarding process

You will receive an email entitled ‘Important: The verification for your upcoming remotely
supervised Aptis test was rejected.’ This email is to notify you that your onboarding was rejected.

Possible reasons for rejection:


missing or insufficient face scan
missing or insufficient ID scan
invalid ID
insufficient environment lighting.

You will have to repeat the whole ID verification process again if your first attempt was rejected.

Note: If you do not onboard successfully, you will receive emails before the test date
reminding you to complete the onboarding process. If you do not complete the onboarding
by the set deadline, you will not be able to take the test.
12 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

Step 3: Preparing for your test day

Approximately two days before your test day you will receive an email entitled ‘Important:
Confirmation of your upcoming Aptis Remote test’. Within the email, you will receive
the live keycodes that you will need for the test.

Ensure you regularly check your email inbox as well as your junk or spam folders. Please
get in touch with us if you do not receive emails by the specified deadlines.

Please do not attempt to access the test before the required test date and time. You
should:

1. Write down your live keycodes provided in the email and have it nearby during
the actual test, as you cannot access your email during the test.

2. Familiarise yourself with the guide and test day procedure, and watch the videos
below before your test:
‘Prepare’ your test environment.
Click here for info on how to complete a 360-degree room scan. Once the page
opens, refer to Step 4 – Complete verification scans and go to section
More about the room scan.

Step 4: On the day of your test

1. Sit in a quiet and private room and check your computer and headset again

Minimum requirements are listed in System requirements and Test environment


requirements.

2. Access the test platform and repeat the same steps as at onboarding

1. Access https://eu-testing.verificient.com/ using Google Chrome and login using the


username in the email entitled ‘Important: Prepare for your upcoming Aptis Remote
test’. The password you need to use is the password you set up when you first logged in
to do the onboarding. If you forgot your password, simply click the ‘Forgot Password’ link,
and follow the instructions.

Login at least 15 minutes before the test start time.

2. Complete the same steps as you did when onboarding: accept the guidelines, do a face
and ID scan. Before starting your Aptis test you are also required to do a room scan as well
as scan the piece of paper you wrote your student codes on, which can be used to take
notes during your speaking test. Make sure to scan the front and back of the paper.
13 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

3. Complete a 360-degree room scan

A 360-degree room scan is required on


the test day.

1. Read the instructions.

2. Click ‘Scan’.

3. Move the webcam or computer slowly


to clearly capture your whole desk area
covering the area above and under your
desk or table, and the entire room area.
See an example of how to do a room
scan correctly at Step 4 – Complete
verification scans, section More about
the room scan here.

Important to note:
Please ensure you complete the room
scan as shown in the step 7 above. If
you fail to do it correctly, there is a high
possibility that your test will be flagged as
an infringement and your test may be failed.

4. Make sure you clearly show the piece of


paper you wrote your student codes. You
have to hold up that paper and scan it front
and back. This paper can also be used to
take notes when allowed to do so during
the speaking test.
14 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

4. Launch Proctortrack and start the


test

Important to note:
Proctortrack launches automatically once
all checks and scans are completed. You
will be directed to the test page.

The test will start in a secured embedded


browser. A blue frame on your screen
indicates that you are being monitored
and recorded. You can click the arrow
button >> on the top left corner to hide
the widget or change its position by
clicking the ‘Show chat/Video window’
button.

DO NOT press the end button (top right


corner of the screen) and exit Proctortrack
monitoring before you have completed
and submitted all test components.

1. Enter your live keycodes provided in


the email.

2. Start the test and finish all components


required. You can review your progress
by clicking the icon in the header and
flagging questions before finishing each
component.

5. Contact Proctortrack Support

If you are advised by the British Council


Team to contact Proctortrack support,
please do so by clicking on the icon you
see in the screenshot.
15 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

6. Exit Proctortrack once all


components are finished

Following the same process as in step


Exit and upload Proctortrack video
on page 9, exit and ensure the video is
successfully uploaded.

The test session is complete! Both


the buttons visible here will close
Proctortrack. Proctortrack will have to
be run before each proctoring-enabled
test. Click ‘Quit‘ to save the application
for use with later tests, or click ‘Uninstall‘
to remove Proctortrack from the current
machine.

Step 5: Your results

Your results will be available five days after the test has been taken and successfully
uploaded. They will be sent to you by your local British Council office.
16 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

Annex

1. System requirements

The test must be taken on a computer. The use of tablet or mobile phones is not permitted.
You will need a device that meets the minimum requirements as below.

Operating System: Windows 10, MAC OSX 10.12 or higher with a minimum of 1 - 2 GB
free space
Processor/RAM: Dual-core 2.4 Ghz CPU, 4 GB RAM or better (Windows), Intel Processor,
2 GB RAM or better (MAC)
Browser: Google Chrome 70 or higher
Plug-ins: HTML5 and Javascript-enabled & third-party cookies enabled
Web-Cam: Resolution 800x600 or better
Keyboard and mouse
Microphone or headset
Internet Connection: Cable Modem, DSL or better (300 kbps download, 250 kbps
upload)
Only one keyboard, mouse & monitor: multiple hardware devices connected to your
computer can result in a policy violation. Take time to set up your workstation
accordingly
17 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

2. Test environment requirements

Use a private testing area -


Sit upright in an area where other people won’t talk and cannot pass
behind you.

Turn off all noise-making devices -


Mobile phones set to vibrate emit detectable sound and any sound from a
mobile device is flagged as a violation.

Ensure your face is clearly visible -


Hair, sunglasses, hats or anything that covers your face can cause your
test to be flagged for low integrity. Eyeglasses are accepted.

Close irrelevant tabs and windows -


The only tabs and windows open during the session should be those
required for the completion of the test. Screenshots will be flagged as a
potential violation.

Sit directly in front of your webcam -


Make sure to stay in the middle of the webcam's view. Leaving the frame or
looking away from the test may be flagged as a potential violation.

Create the proper lighting -


Sit in a consistently well lit room with as plain a background as possible.
18 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

3. Test security and candidate actions

Your actions will be monitored in real-time and recorded. Suspicious activity will be
flagged by the system and may result in the cancellation of your test.

Therefore, you should:

Prepare your valid ID in advance. Valid forms of ID include your passport, identity card
and biometric residence permit (if a photo is included). The ID must contain your full
name and a photo of yourself on the same side.

Sit directly in front of your computer screen and ensure you are always clearly visible.

You are not allowed to leave the room or take breaks during the test.

Actions or behaviours not permitted during your test include but are not limited to:
 • cheating of any kind
 • answering or checking your phone during the test
 • allowing another person to enter your test space
 • looking away from your computer screen for an extended period
 • recording and taking screenshots of the test questions
 • copying and pasting and visiting another website during the test
 • having food or drinks
 • personal items such as wallet, sunglasses and other items not necessary for testing.

4. Data protection

For the purpose of the test, we collect and use personal data to ensure the delivery of
the test is conducted smoothly. We also need to protect the integrity of the test and
prevent any malpractice to happen. The video recording footage will be reviewed by
human invigilators if the system identifies any malpractices and not permitted behaviours
occurred during the duration of the test.

We apply the UK Data Protection Act (incorporating the EU General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR)) to all our global operations unless the local equivalent law is stronger.
This policy will apply in all locations where we operate, to all forms of information and to all
systems used to collect, store, process or transfer information.

The UK Data Protection Act (and GDPR) works in two main ways. It gives individuals rights
over how their personal information is used and sets out rules for organisations that
process personal information.

Find out more information here.


19 Step-by-step guide on taking the Aptis Remote test

5. Safeguarding

We aim to create a safe environment in which no child or adult will experience harm or
exploitation during their contact with us. We recognise our responsibility to protect them
from abuse, exploitation and negligence, applying zero tolerance and aiming to create
a safe environment for them. Therefore, we have measures in place when we deliver the
Aptis rest remotely to children and vulnerable adults.

We are committed to:

complying with relevant UK and international laws and standards and ensuring local
legal compliance

valuing, respecting and listening to children and adults

minimising and managing situations where abuse could occur, through maintaining
strong protection systems and procedures including planning, risk assessment and
safeguarding systems

sharing safeguarding best practice and information regarding safeguarding concerns


with relevant parties, maintaining confidentiality so far as possible and involving
children and adults where appropriate

taking action and investigating suspected abuse proportionately and appropriately.

6. Aptis for all

We believe that the Aptis tests should be accessible to anyone who wants to take them. We
also believe that each person should have the opportunity to perform to the best of his or
her ability on the Aptis tests.

If you have a disability and believe that Aptis is not accessible to you or believe that the
form of the test will not allow you to show your true level of English, please contact your
local British Council centre to talk about the ways in which the test can be modified for
your needs.

We can make adjustments such as providing pen and paper tests, face-to-face tests,
Braille and large font tests, adjusting timing, and a range of other modifications. Please
discuss it with us to ensure that we can support you with a test which is both fair to you
and maintains the high standards and reliability of Aptis.
© British Council 2023
The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries,
and builds trust between them worldwide. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales SC037733 (Scotland).

You might also like